Apparatus for maintaining a stabilized oxygen atmosphere about the head of a patient

ABSTRACT

A sidewall forms an open-top chamber having dimensions for containing the head of a patient and permitting free access to the head of the patient. An opening is defined in the sidewall for receiving the neck portion of the patient. Inlet structure supplies a metered supply of oxygen through the sidewall so as to induce flow currents within the chamber which tends to maintain a stabilized oxygen atmosphere about the head of the patient. A flexible sealing curtain is attached to the opening through the sidewall for sealing with the neck of the patient to eliminate leakage of the oxygen.

United States Patent [72] lnventor David W. Deaton 5 References Ci 823 Plymouth Road, Apt. C, Dallas, Tex. UNITED STATES PATENTS 75211 Cameto 2,896,617 7/1959 Gibbons 128/145 [22] Filed July 2, 1969 [45] Patented Jam 5,1971 2,915,074 12/1959 Cameto 128/191 3,351,737 11/1967 Katgman et a1. 128/192X Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne Attorney-Richards, Harris & Hubbard [54] APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A STABILIZED OXYGEN ATMOSPHERE ABOUT THE HEAD OF A ABSTRACT: A sidewall forms an open-top chamber hav ng PATIENT tdimensionsfor}?orlztalrinntgtgie head of: patient and piernitgng ree access 0 e ea 0 e pa en n opening is e ne 1n u Clams 7 Drawing the sidewall for receiving the neck portion of the patient. Inlet [52] US. Cl 128/203, structure supplies a metered supply of oxygen through the 128/194 sidewall so as to induce flow currents within the chamber [51] Int- Cl 6 15/00 which tends to maintain a stabilized oxygen atmosphere about [50] Field of Search 128/ 1 .02, the head of the patient. A flexible sealing curtain is attached to,

the opening through the sidewall for sealing with the neck of the patient to eliminate leakage of the oxygen.

PATENTEU JAN- 51971 SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR: 24 DAVID W DEATOW ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 5 I97! SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR: DAVID W DEA TON ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A STABILIZED oxvoEN ATMOSPHERE ABOUT THE HEAD or A PATI NT FIELD OF THEINVENTION 1 This invention relates to a method and apparatus for inducing an artificial atmosphere, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for providing an oxygen atmosphere to the head of an infant patient while allowing-free access to the head of the patient for treatment and the like.

' v THE PRIOR ART tors in order to manually care for or treat the infants. This violation results in an abrupt and severe lossof oxygen and heat from the incubators. This environmental violation is particularly disastrous with very sick infants which often require the most care and treatment, while also requiring a continuous supply of oxygen and a constant temperature application.

lnan effort to eliminate the problems occurring upon the environmental violation of incubators, small closed oxygen hoods have been heretofore developed which fit over the head of .an infant. Examplesof such head oxygen hoods are those manufactured and sold by the Ohio-Kreiseman Corp. and by the Hudson Corp. However, such hoods have comprised a completely closed chamber about the head of the infant, thus eliminating access to the infants head for care or treatment thereof. Such access to the infant's head is often necessary to facilitate care of the infants air passages and eyes, as well as to enable oral feeding scalp intravenous administration, and the application of nasogastric' tubes, nasotracheal tubes and tracheostomy tubes. Additionally, such previous closed hoods have required relatively intricate and expensive attachments for venting of the closed hoods in case of oxygen failure to prevent suffocation of the infant, or, in some cases have oxygen levels within the hoods due to the fact that the closed atmosphere must be violated. v

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an open-top hood is provided which maintains a preselected oxygen level about the head of an infant; The hood providescomplete and free access to the infant's head without interruption of oxygen, thereby facilitating the care and treatment of the patient. The open top aspect of the invention prevents suffocation of the patient in the case of an oxygen failure. The percentage of oxygen maintained about the patients head may be selectively varied, and the oxygen may be admitted through a humidifying or nebulizing unit. v v

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an open-top chamber is formed by a continuous, generally circular, sidewall of dimensions to contain the head of a patient. An opening is disposed through the sidewall for the reception of 2 DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of-the present invention .and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to. the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

'FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present open-topped oxygen chamber in use with an infant patient;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the chamber shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic top view of the chamber shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the induced oxygen currents therein; 1

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic side view of the chamber shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the inducement of oxygen currents therein;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the open-topped oxygen chamber of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a third embodiment of the open-topped oxygen chamber of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of another embodiment of the invention wherein oxygen is passed through a nebulizer into the chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates the present open-topped oxygen chamber identifiedby the numeral 10, in use with an infant patient andnasotracheal tubes. While the present invention thus finds great applicability with use with infantpatients, it is also to be understoodthat the invention could also be used with larger adult patients if desired.

I The open top chamber 10 of the invention comprises a continuous circular sidewall 14, which is preferably constructed from clear, transparent plastic, or other similar transparent material, for ease of visibility of the head area of the patient. A generally U-shaped opening 16 is provided through the sidewall 14 to admit the neck and shoulder portions of the patient 12. While it will be understood that the dimensions of the the patients head. The overall diameter of the chamber 10 should be sufficiently larger than the patient's head to enable ease of access to the head of the patient by a doctor or a nurse.

'- FIG. 1 illustrates the ease of access to the head of a patient 12 the neck of the patient. A generally T-shaped inlet is provided the chamber may be selectivelyvaried by the passing of oxygen through a humidifier or through a nebulizer which includes proportional adjustment structure.

by the hand H of a doctor.

Oxygen or any other suitable gas mixture is admitted into the chamber 10 through a flexible inlet hose 18 from a suitable source. This source may be a conventional pressurized tank of oxygen, or as will be later described, may be a source of oxygen fed through a humidifiennebulizer or other mixing and dispensing device. The oxygen is fed through the wall 14 and via a T-shaped inlet 20 into the chamber 10. The Tshaped inlet 20 directs the flow of oxygen in two opposite directions within the chamber 10 to induce currents which tend to maintain a stabilized oxygen atmosphere within the chamber 10. One or more notches 21 may be cut in the bottom of the sidewall 14 in order to allow the admission of intraveneous tubing or the like to the patient without loss of oxygen.

A. pair of support members 220-!) are attached to the sidewall 14 in order to maintain the chamber in a stabilized position. These supports may not be necessary on a chamber having a sufficiently wide diameter. A flexible sealing skirt 24 is attached around the edges of the U-shaped opening 16 in order to provide a seal between the body of the patient 12 and the stabilized oxygen atmosphere within the chamber 10. The

skirt 24 may preferably comprise a flexible, transparent sheet of plastic such as polyethylene or the like.' In the preferred embodiment, the skirt 24 is disposable to allow maintenance of sanitary conditions.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the skirt 24 is connected about the edges of the opening 16 by a generally U-shaped bracket 26 which is rigidly connected to the sidewall 14 by a plurality of screws, bolts or snaps 28. To replace skirt 24, the screws 28 are removed, the U-shaped bracket 26 is removed, the new skirt is attached and the bracket and the screws are replaced. While the bracket 26 is shown as being disposed on the exterior of the chamber 10, it will be understood that the bracket could alternatively be connnected to the interior of the chamber 10. Likewise, alternate connections for the skirt 24 can be provided to facilitate ease of removal, such as provision of an elastic fastening device which clamps the skirt.

The basic operation of the chamber is best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Pressurized oxygen, or a suitable combination of oxygen and other gases, is fed through the T- 'shaped inlet which is rigidly connected through the sidewall 14. Inlet 20 includes two oppositely directed outlets 30a-b which direct a pressurized stream of oxygen in opposite directions generally tangent to the sidewall 14. The air currents are illustrated by arrows 32 in FIG. 3.. The,head of the patient is illustrated diagrammatically by the circle 34 in FIG. 3.

It will be seen that the air currents create a swirling motion around the sides of the chamber 10 which tends to maintain a constant flow of oxygen in the vicinity of the patients head34. Additionally, the oxygen admitted from the outlets 30a-b tends to swirl vertically in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. A portion of the oxygen escapes outwardly through the open top of the chamber 10 as illustrated by the current paths 36. However, a portion of the oxygen follows the current paths38 and swirls downwardly within the chamber and therefore tends to maintain a stabilized atmosphere of oxygen within the chamber 10. This phenomena of induced-currents of turbu- 1 lence within the chamber 10 allows the use of the open-topped chamber 10 without loss of desirable atmosphere.

In fact, tests run with the present chamber have indicated that a predetermined percentage of oxygen may be main- 'tained in the chamber 10 between a very narrow range of perover the frame to define the sidewall of the chamber according to the invention. Preferably, the sheath'46 is constructed from flexible plastic which may be easily disposed after use. A U-shaped opening 48 is defined through the sheath 46 for admission of the patients neck. A flexible sealing skirt may also 'be attached to the opening 48 in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

Alternatively, the sealing skirt may also be attached to the sheath as an integral part during manufacture, as by heat sealing, sewing or the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment wherein the sidewall of the present open top chamber is removable. A base 50 includes a curved groove 52in the upper face thereof. A rectanigular sheet 54 of relatively stiff flexible plastic or the like is insertable into the curved groove 52, as illustrated, to form a curved, open-top chamber. Preferably, a U-shaped cutout 56 will be formed by cutout portions in the end of sheet 54, with a flexible sealing skirt 58 attached to one end of the s heet54.

After use, the sheet 54 may be easily, removed and disposed. of,

and a fresh identical sheet inserted into the groove 52.

As previously noted, in some uses a source'of pii'rje pxygen will be desired to be metered into the chamber 10. Inother environments, it is desirable to provide predetermined percentages of oxygen and mixtures of air or other gases into the chamber 10. For instance, it may be desirable in some instances to supply oxygen througha conventional humidifier and from thence into the chamber lO-iAhothrernbodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein a" so'iirce conventional tank of pressurized oxygen 60 includes conventional meteringstructure 62 for providing a pressurized sourceof oxyg'en through a conventional nebulizer 64. g

A suitable type of conventional nebulizer is the type manufactured and sold by the Ohio Chemical Corp.-or by the Puritan-Bennett Corp. In such nebulizers, oxygen and water are mixed within a jet and sprayed outwardly upon aball-orother deflector. The mixture of water and oxygen break into;.s mall particles and the nebulizer admits a fine 'mist of a predetermined portion of oxygen therein. A knob 66 allows adjustment of the portion of oxygen to closely define the percentages. The oxygen mist is fed through the flexible hose 18 into the chamber by application to the patient in the previously disclosedmanner. Compressed air may alsobe added to the oxygen in order to mix proportions of oxygen and air for admission to' the chamberlOJ It will thus be seen that the present invention eliminates the problems heretofore experienced with the use of incubators or other controlled'atmosphere devices which must be violated in order to administer aid to the patient. For the present device, a controlled atmosphere may be maintained about the head of a patient even when care of treatment is being directed to the patients head; Due to the open top nature of the device, safety with respect to"siifi'o,catiori is provided, even when the source of oxygen fails temporarily.

In one practical embodiment whichwo'rked well, a diameter of approximately 8 inches was provided to the I circular chamber. The sidewall 14 was 6 inches high, with a neck opening of about 3 inches height and width being provided. Of course, many other dimension combinations may be provided to the chambers. 1

While the present invention has been described with respect to a generally circular chamber, it will be understood that other cross sections of chambers may'be' advantageously utilized. For instance, a generally oval-shaped chamber may also be utilized to create a controlled turbulence in order to maintain oxygen within the open-topped chamber. Even generally therein. 1

Whereas the present invention has been describedwith respect to a specific embodiment thereof, it must be understood that various changes and modifications will bersuggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended to encompass those changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. Iclaim: H 1. Apparatus for maintaining a stabilized gas atmosphere about the head of a patient comprising: m

a generally cylindrical open-topped chamber; a patient-receiving opening in the lowerpdrtion of said chamber; gas inlet means in theform of a T-shapedta-ngentially' arranged inlet to establish a tangential.vortx' flowwithin said chamber and positioned in the lower portion-of said chamber diammetn'cally opposed to said patient receiving opening; and k Y sealing means in said patient-receiving open g airtightflow pathwithin said chamber. 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 and further comprising: ineans for selectively varying the percentage of agselected gas plied to said chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sidewalls of "said chamber have a height 'o'fadimension greater'thant e he'a'clof apatient. w c.

to effect an 4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: means for supplyinga predetermined amount of moisture to the gas supplied to said chamber.

5. Apparatus for maintaining a selected atmosphere about the head of a patient comprising:

a generally cylindrical open ended chamber;

a patient-receiving opening defined in the lower portion of said chamber; and

gas inlet means for establishing a tangential vortex flow of gas within said chamber and positioned in a lower portion of said chamber spaced from said patient-receiving open- I 8. Apparatus for maintaining a stabilized gas atmosphere about the head of a patient comprising:

an open ended chamber having curved sidewalls; patient-receiving means defined in a lower portion of said sidewalls; and gas inlet means in the form of a tangentially arranged inlet to establish a tangential vortex flow within said chamber to maintain a stabilized gas atmosphere about the head of a a patient, said gas inlet means being positioned to direct said vortex flow from a lower position within said chamber tangentially around said sidewalls and then upwardly to maintain said stabilized atmosphere.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising: means for selectively varying the percentage of oxygen supplied to said chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said sidewalls are made of transparent material to enable observation of the patient therethrough. I

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said sidewalls are disposable. 

1. Apparatus for maintaining a stabilized gas atmosphere about the head of a patient comprising: a generally cylindrical open-topped chamber; a patient-receiving opening in the lower portion of said chamber; gas inlet means in the form of a T-shaped tangentially arranged inlet to establish a tangential vortex flow within said chamber and positioned in the lower portion of said chamber diammetrically opposed to said patient receiving opening; and sealing means in said patient-receiving opening to effect an airtight flow path within said chamber.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: means for selectively varying the percentage of a selected gas supplied to said chamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sidewalls of said chamber have a height of a dimension greater than the head of a patient.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: means for supplying a predetermined amount of moisture to the gas supplied to said chamber.
 5. Apparatus for maintaining a selected atmosphere about the head of a patient comprising: a generally cylindrical open ended chamber; a patient-receiving opening defined in the lower portion of said chamber; and gas inlet means for establishing a tangential vortex flow of gas within said chamber and positioned in a lower portion of said chamber spaced from said patient-receiving opening, and means in said patient-receiving opening to effect a controlled flow path within said chamber.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said gas inlet means comprises a T-shaped inlet for supplying gas tangent to the sidewalls of said chamber in opposite directions to induce said tangential vortex flow.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said chamber comprises: a base; and a detachable flexible member connectable to said base to form the sidewalls of said chamber.
 8. Apparatus for maintaining a stabilized gas atmosphere about the head of a patient comprising: an open ended chamber having curved sidewalls; patient-receiving means defined in a lower portion of said sidewalls; and gas inlet means in the form of a tangentially arranged inlet to establish a tangential vortex flow within said chamber to maintain a stabilized gas atmosphere about the head of a patient, said gas inlet means being positioned to direct said vortex flow from a lower position within said chamber tangentially around said sidewalls and then upwardly to maintain said stabilized atmosphere.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising: means for selectively varying the percentage of oxygen supplied to said chamber.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said sidewalls are made of transparent material to enable observation of the patient therethrough.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said sidewalls are disposable. 